Winter Rite of Passage: Tioga Pass Prognosticator #12

I too think the budget has a lot to do with it. When I went over it, the toll booth was locked up tight, nobody to staff it. They were stopping everyone at the other 3 exits and checking for receipts and collecting money from those who didn't have one. Absolutely nothing was open between the pass and Crane Flat. Also, at Bodie there was nobody in the booth, payment was sort of on the honor system. The ranger there told me that they only had 4 rangers where in the summer they have 20. He was spending most of his time writing tickets in the parking lot for vehicles that didn't have envelope stubs on the dash.

Looks like Sheriff Dave needs to make it official...

NPS site is now reporting the road closed

We've never, ever had a back-to-back TPP winner... Looks like Jessica Beagles-Roo, (CANative) is going to "own" that distinction...pending official ruling by Sheriff Dave.

The page has been updated and is now officially listed as closed. However, this has happened before during this contest period and then been taken down. It also lists Glacier point as having shut on Nov 19, when we know they closed it last night at 7pm. [Doesn't fill you with confidence does it ?]

This also from the Yosemite.

Quote:

---

Yosemite National Park

Winter looks like it might finally be on its way! In preparation, we will be closing the Glacier Point Road tonight at 7pm. We will re-evaluate the road conditions after the storm. The Tioga Road remains closed.

---

I wish they had written "Tioga pass will remain closed now". ??

I'm quite sure it's Jessica's for the taking, I am just waiting a confirmation that that is definitely it for the season.

Ebbetts, Sonora, and Monitor are also closed now - and the only ways to get over the Sierras without chains are 50 and 88. Lots of chain restrictions, including I-80 and I-5.

I'd suggest we wait until at least the 27th and see if it really is closed for the season!

Mark

I thought it possible I would be able to announce the winner today, but unfortunately that is not the case.

In response from Yosemite to my question regarding the Tioga pass status.

Quote:

---

We will re-evaluate conditions of both roads after the storm.

---

'Both' refers to the Tioga Pass and Glacier Point road.

It's looking murky up on the Pass right now and the forecast for tonight is Heavy snow followed by more snow through the weekend, which is thought to be getting heavy again on Sunday night. This is above 8500 feet. A total snow accumulation of between 2 and 3 feet is possible and if it gets somewhere in between that, I would be most surprised if it re-opened again for the winter season.

Dave.

Yes Dave is correct that a 2011 closing date was posted on the official NPS "closing and opening date " list back in November and retracted days later when the road reopened. Any possibility that the announcement of an "official 2012 opening" will be the first indication that the road closed for winter? In other words, if an "opening" date is designated then it might retroactively identify a "closing" date. Thus, the 2 dates would be announced at the same time, then there won't be a 15 day window to predict spring opening. Sigh -- I knew predicting closing date would be more challenging.

Tioga Pass Point Forecast

Looks pretty nasty!

Still snowing...Web cam